Letter from Litigation Services Co - British Gas

gazfocus

We have recently moved into a rental property (moved in March) and we have just received a letter from 'The Litigation Services Co' saying they are contacting me on behalf of British Gas who need to verify the account information relating to the above property from 30/11/2009'.

It also says 'If you fail to contact us we will schedule a visit to the property by one of our representatives in order to obtain the required details.'

Can anyone recommend what I do about this? I don't know who lived in the house prior to my moving in and I feel annoyed that British Gas have passed my details on to a litigation company even though they know when we moved in.

Any advice would be great.

Mankysteve

Did you submit meter reading when you moved out of your old address and when you moved into this one?
Phone BG they most likely ask for a photocopy of your tenancy agreement.

gazfocus

Mankysteve wrote: »

Did you submit meter reading when you moved out of your old address and when you moved into this one?
Phone BG they most likely ask for a photocopy of your tenancy agreement.

I was with British Gas at my old address and yes I submitted closing readings and opening readings at the new address. While I'm not trying to be difficult, why should I have to send them any proof of anything?

Premier_2

gazfocus wrote: »

... While I'm not trying to be difficult, why should I have to send them any proof of anything?

Whilst you may not intend to be difficult, this will be the way they preceive you (trying to hide something) unless you supply what seems like a perfectly reasonable request by the supplier to acertain your liability to what has been supplied to the property.

If there really is any genuine reason you want to withhold such information, you need to explain this to the supplier and see what other negotiated solution could be reached (else they will think you are trying to be difficult)

gazfocus

Premier wrote: »

Whilst you may not intend to be difficult, this will be the way they preceive you (trying to hide something) unless you supply what seems like a perfectly reasonable request by the supplier to acertain your liability to what has been supplied to the property.

If there really is any genuine reason you want to withhold such information, you need to explain this to the supplier and see what other negotiated solution could be reached (else they will think you are trying to be difficult)

I don't have anything to hide and don't understand what I could be trying to hide considering they were my supplier in my old house and are my current supplier and have already been given moving out/moving in dates. Therefore, what they're asking me for (I presume) is details of who lived in the house before me - however, I have no knowledge of who lived here prior to me moving in because it's a rented house and never met the previous tenants.

To be honest, it's not the fact that British Gas are asking for this information (even though I can't give it them) it's the fact that British Gas have passed on MY details to this litigation company who have then written to me threatening to come round to my home to obtain information that I don't have. I just think it's a bit unreasonable.

Mankysteve

Have you actually bothered to ring Bg to ask what going on?

Premier_2

gazfocus wrote: »

...Therefore, what they're asking me for (I presume) is details of who lived in the house before me - however, I have no knowledge of who lived here prior to me moving in because it's a rented house and never met the previous tenants....

Have you actually asked BG what they want?

The earlier suggestion to which you weren't "trying to be difficult" was for a copy of the current tenancy agreement.

DVardysShadow

gazfocus wrote: »

We have recently moved into a rental property (moved in March) and we have just received a letter from 'The Litigation Services Co' saying they are contacting me on behalf of British Gas who need to verify the account information relating to the above property from 30/11/2009'.

It also says 'If you fail to contact us we will schedule a visit to the property by one of our representatives in order to obtain the required details.'

Can anyone recommend what I do about this? I don't know who lived in the house prior to my moving in and I feel annoyed that British Gas have passed my details on to a litigation company even though they know when we moved in.

Any advice would be great.

I share your concern that it is the 'Litigation Services Co' which has contacted you in the first instance. These days, I would be very suspicious that it might be a scam and I would expect BG to make direct contact and ask their questions.

I suspect that if it is genuine, the problem may be that your opening reading is much higher than the last closing reading they were given.

In your position I would be writing back to the 'Litigation Services Co' along the lines of

Dear Sirs

In respect of your letter of <date>, your company has no contractual relationship with me and your request that I contact you is discharged with this letter, as you have posed no meaningful question. No further correspondence will be entered into and no visit by a representative will be entertained.

Should British Gas wish to contact us directly, we will of course deal with them.

Yours faithfully

gazfocus.

Premier_2

They are a legitimate company, and appear to be related to Severn Trent Water ... or at least they share the same registered office.

You'll also see other instances where British Gas have asked them to pursue debts.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/549427


But as previously advised, I would be inclined to contact British Gas directly - if they have any issues regarding your account, they will certainly be aware of them.
At worst they will clarify any concerns you have with speaking to the debt DCA over your BG account.

specialsparky

I guess they are after the previous tenants. There may be a debt left from the previous account and they have sent it out for tracing,they will always start with the old addreess first.
phone them up and give them your Landlords details and tell them your name and the date you took occupation and what ytour opening read wer and you won, hear from them again.
They are just doing them job if you are secretive or funny they will think you may be hiding something. Many people just phone their suppliers and make out they are new tennants when really they have been there all the time
Hope this helps
Good luck

DVardysShadow

specialsparky wrote: »

I guess they are after the previous tenants. There may be a debt left from the previous account and they have sent it out for tracing,they will always start with the old addreess first.
phone them up and give them your Landlords details and tell them your name and the date you took occupation and what ytour opening read wer and you won, hear from them again.
They are just doing them job if you are secretive or funny they will think you may be hiding something. Many people just phone their suppliers and make out they are new tennants when really they have been there all the time
Hope this helps
Good luck

It is for British Gas to contact their customers direct if they have a problem. Nobody owes Litigation Services any explanation whatsoever.

I would agree, however, it is likely to involve a former tenant.